A Tarantula Hawk Wasp. Dr. John Alcock

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Dr. John Alcock, a regent's professor of biology at Arizona State University, has been studying the mating practices of the tarantula hawk wasp in the Usery Mountains in Arizona for many years. These wasps get their name from preying on tarantulas and other large spiders. Female hawk wasps have long, powerful stingers. When they are ready to lay an egg, they will seek out a spider--the bigger sized the better, sting and paralyze it, then lay a single egg on the spider's body. The female wasp will then drag the spider back to it's own burrow or bury it in a hole. When the larva hatch a few days later, a massive meal is waiting and they will slowly eat the spider alive. The size of the spider on which the egg is laid will determine the size of the adult wasp. The larger the spider the larger the meal, and the bigger the wasp will grow. This is very important because it is the size of the male wasp that will ultimately determine whether or not he will find a mate.

The mating territories of the tarantula hawk wasp are along aplo verde-studded ridges. When mating time arrives, female wasps fly uphill to the highest point, where the males will meet them. Alcock has found that competition for these peak, top territories is fierce, and it is the larger males that almost always win, creating a serious problem for the smaller males.

The male wasps fall into different categories, depending on their size. The largest wasps--which can measure almost 2 inches long--will stake their claim in prime mating territory in trees along the top mountain ridges. The smaller males--which are sometimes less than half an inch long--tend to occupy lower, less attractive sites where females are in short supply. A second group of smaller males are vagabonds, and wander among other males' territories, rather than make any particular tree or shrub their home. They may attempt to intercept females on their way to the top. Sometimes, a particularly confident mid-size male hawk wasp may try to oust a bigger wasp from his roost, and if in good condition, may even win the challenge. These encounters can escalate into dramatic battles. The wasps don't grapple or wrestle but instead, engage in ritualized aerial displays that Alcock says are spectacular to watch. They may race upwards of over 100 feet, all the while spiraling around each other, then stop mid air and dive back down to the tree. When they are serious about winning, these upward spiral flights can number in the hundreds and last up to an hour.

The National Science Foundation supports ASU research on insect mating strategies.